PANDORA.NIGH@f532.n157.z1.fidonet.org (PANDORA NIGH) (01/05/90)
Index Number: 6037
I took my course through a regular certification course offered by a
dive shop and really didn't find any prejudice with the instructer. When he
found out that I could swim and tread water his fears were over. The only
thing that made me uncomfortable was the awe and amazement the other
students kept giving me. It made me feel like a freak and I had a hard time
working and convincing them that I was no more special and not really doing
much more than they were. In fact I had an advantage, I am much better in
water than on land and had a very good swimming back ground. Before my
disability I swam in competition and had received my life guard
certification at 12. It does help to have good technique.
There is a National Handicapped Divers Association but the number and
address that I have is old and no good, maybe someone else has the recent
number. Another place to check for specialized classes is with the Y's and
police departments. In Cleveland, Oh there are a couple of police that teach
wheelchair diving classes as well as one of the Y's. Recently one of the
dive shops in the area has sent one of their instructer to be certified in
teaching the disabled and they will also be offering courses. The best I can
say is if someone is intrested in Scuba check around.
Another thing to consider is skin diving where one uses just a snorkle,
people that have real problems and fears of going underwater can with the
use of a snorkle and wetsuit find that they are buoyant enough to just float
on the surface without any effort and in clear water can enjoy a lot of the
underwater scenery.
Pandora
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